That’s because Shanahan knows how hard Johnny Football is working to win the Browns’ starting quarterback job. There’s something else Shanahan is enamored of: how much Manziel’s electric skillset reminds him of Robert Griffin III, Shanahan’s former protégé with the Washington Redskins.

“Johnny and Robert are very similar,” Shanahan said. “They’re both talented guys who can make plays with their legs. But there comes a time in the NFL when they’re going to keep you in the pocket, and you’re going to have to have that ability to make the throws with your arm and mind.

“And Johnny, just like Robert, has that arm talent and intelligence to do that.”

Manziel has been everything Shanahan hoped.

“Perception becomes everyone’s reality, but Johnny has been here working his tail off day and night, doing everything we ask,” Shanahan said. “He’s really attacked it every day, done a good job even as each week gets harder as we throw a lot more at him.

“I’ve been very impressed.”

Running an offense tailored to showcase his dual-threat talent, Griffin earned 2012 offensive rookie of the year honors by throwing 20 touchdown passes with five interceptions, running for 815 yards and seven more scores under Shanahan and his father, former Washington head coach Mike Shanahan.

RG3, the second overall draft pick in 2012, immediately was installed as the team’s starter. Manziel still must pry the Browns’ top job free from veteran Brian Hoyer by winning an open competition.

“If he keeps working like he has been, Johnny should be feeling comfortable by the time we get to training camp,” Kyle Shanahan said.

Manziel’s arm strength, accuracy on the move and adaptability to NFL coaching mesmerized Browns brass during a private workout at Texas A&M.

“You have to have some special magic, swagger to you that you can get the job done,” Kyle Shanahan said. “And Johnny demonstrated that as good as anyone who’s ever played college football. And we think he’ll be able to carry it over.

“He’s got the arm talent and he ran around, made a ton of plays that won him the Heisman. You hope he can do that in the NFL. But you also know he won’t be able to do it as much. Yet he still has to be him and make those plays.”

But in order to win from the pocket, Manziel must first prove he can decipher what opposing defenses are planning before the snap.

Hoyer, who grew up in nearby North Olmsted, led the Browns to two consecutive victories last season and was officially credited with a third after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in an Oct. 3 win against the Buffalo Bill. But that was running former coordinator Norv Turner’s offense.

As longtime NFL coach Tony Dungy said Thursday on The Dan Patrick Show: “They’ll have a riot in Cleveland if Manziel isn’t starting opening day. I wouldn’t want to face those fans if you trot someone else out there opening day.”

Before the draft, Dungy also said the team selecting Manziel would need to have the flexibility to build an offense that fits his unorthodox, free-wheeling style.

“You put a scheme in that everybody runs,” Kyle Shanahan said. “But there’s things that Johnny does better than Hoyer, and things that Hoyer does better than Johnny.”

“Obviously, Brian’s been here and has a good grip on the offense. I’ve just been here two weeks. I’m really learning trial by error and trying to piece together things and really put everything into form. That doesn’t happen overnight. I don’t think it happens overnight for anybody.

“There’s a lot of time to continue to improve and try to figure this thing out.”

The Browns still have at least three months to sort out what promises to be the most closely watched quarterback battle in the league this summer.

“It’s pretty simple,” Kyle Shanahan said. “Whoever moves the team the best and puts points on the board, we’ll be the most happy to go with.”

Browns’ Gordon caught speeding, passenger had pot

CLEVELAND (AP) – Josh Gordon’s troubles are piling up fast.

Cleveland’s Pro Bowl receiver, facing a possible NFL suspension for another failed drug test, was ticketed for speeding last weekend and a passenger in his car was cited for marijuana possession.

Gordon was pulled over for driving 74 mph in a 60 mph zone May 25, WKYC-TV reported Friday. According to the report, the passenger in Gordon’s Mercedes was issued a citation for possession of marijuana in an amount under 200 grams. The marijuana was found in a blue bag with identification. The passenger said the marijuana was not Gordon’s.